My Sugarland Blogger Event

My Sugarland, a unique boutique located in the heart of Islington (Central London) recently hosted a blogger event in store and we were only too happy to provide the makeup for their mini transformations. Each blogger got to choose an outfit and have their makeup professionally applied. Here are some of the shots from the event.

To see the full event check out My Sugarland’s blog and their tags link to all the bloggers that attended so you can grab a sneaky look at their photos too!  

Illamasqua Loves... Lucy Gibson Make-up Artist

One of the things that I love about working at Illamasqua is hearing about all the shoots and shows that our artists have worked on. One of the hardest working freelancers I have met is Lucy Gibson. I frequently receive texts from her about who she is working with and where they are working - for instance, recently she has worked on diverse shoots such as the come-back video of Bananarama, Agent Provocateur's latest shoot and a SHOWStudio shoot with Nick Knight amongst many, many others.

So, I thought I would showcase some of Lucy's work right here for you all to see. I took inspiration from the berry lip girl today - I have layered on Medium Pencil in 'Severe' to match my new burgundy coat [I say new; my pregnant friend gave it to me... she can't fit in it anymore, what a shame!] - and Lucy has given me a breakdown of the look below...

"The berry lip girl is wearing Satin Primer (which I use for almost all shoots!) and a little light foundation, with a touch of Cream Blusher in 'Dixie' low on the apples of the cheek for a tomboyish, wind-kissed look. To open the eyes I added Medium Pencil in 'Vow' on the waterline and clear mascara to Alison's fantastic lashes. The lips that go so well with the model's gorgeous fair complexion were made up of a base of Lipstick in 'Poison' finished with a slick of Intense Lipgloss in my favourite shade; 'Repulse'."

"This was a shot from work I regularly do with Nevs model agency and the fantastic photographer Lee Mofo, who's recent clients include Firetrap, FrostFrench and 28twelve. We hold shoot days for the agency at my warehouse studio and often shoot up to 8 girls a day, so it's important to create strong, camera ready looks with minimal time and product. Illamasqua's huge colour pay-off and great range of shades makes my job a lot easier, and needless to say my male flatmates never complain about having a house full of gorgeous models!"

"The dark, smoky eye was created for a Shoreditch clothing label called Blank, shot in the City with the fantastic Odi Caspi. Despite dodging heavy downpours of rain and having to adopt a somewhat guerilla approach to shooting to avoid the hoardes of rather unfriendly security guards, we managed to get some fantastic shots on the day!"

"Our stunning model Ashley had incredible blue eyes with a great fierce stare that I wanted to accentuate, so taking inspiration from the runways of Versace, I created a very dramatic smoky eye. I used Medium Pencil in 'Sophie' as an eyeshadow - drawing it onto the entire lid, waterline and below the eye, then using my fantastic Illamasqua Blending Brush I, II and the Eyeshadow Brush to disperse and blend the colour into a dramatic wing around the eye. I set this with Powder Eye Shadow 'Incubus' then added Powder Eye Shadow in 'Truth' to the brow bone right up to the eyebrow which was filled in with Illamasqua Powder Eyeshadow in 'Boomerang'. To finish I added lashings of Illamasqua Volume Mascara and a touch of Sheer Lipgloss in 'Brilliant' to the inner corners of the eye to give a tarry, rock chick look." [Note: Tarry! Awesome word for the look I think *mentally adds to dictionary*...]

"The skin was created using Satin Primer again, with Cream Foundation buffed into the skin using Blending Brush II (I love using this brush with foundation, it really gets into all the "nooks and crannies" giving the fantastic coverage of our foundation, but with the texture and feel of natural skin). I contoured the cheeks with a darker shade of Cream Foundation (this will differ from person to person, ask one of Illamasqua's fabulous on counter artists to match your skin tone!) before finishing the look with another of my favourite products, Lipstick in 'Submit', pressed into moisturised lips with the finger tip."

On an all day shoot like this, it's important to use longwearing products, especially in the rain, and luckily with Illamasqua's range I don't have to compromise my creativity for durability :)"

Illamasqua Loves... Laura Dark Photography

Laura Dark has worked with Acid PopTart to capture some of the beautiful images that we showed you in Acid PopTart's interview last week. Some of the images had me so excited that I just had to get in touch with the photographer and get her side of the story, so to speak!

Photography has always been a passion of mine; I had Cecil Beaton, Man Ray and David la Chapelle plastered to my walls as a student, so I was excited to speak to Model Mayhem's No.1 Photographer of the Year 2009 and get her take on the alternative scene, her passion for photography and her views on Illamasqua...

"First of all let me say, I LOVE your brand!" Says Laura, "I was so excited to see that Sephora picked it up so I could purchase it in the store. I think it's wonderful how this brand crosses the line from dark into fashion. I shoot dark glamour and this makeup is PERFECT for what I do, so I am excited to be working with Illamasqua makeup!!!"

Alex: Why did you decide to become a photographer? What was it about capturing images for a living that interested you so much?

"I had started my art career as a portrait sketch artist, but decided that field was so very limited that I couldn't make a living from it. I had picked up some photography skills in high school when I was the yearbook staff photographer. After high school, I apprenticed under a local photographer for two years before breaking off on my own. I started taking images of families and wedding and then in late 1999 I started shooting bands. In 2000 I started shooting alternative models for their portfolio updates and alternative websites and fashion designers. Since then, I have been making a living from my photography in the alternative scene with bands, models, magazines, and websites."

Alex: Your work strongly references alternative cultures. Could you explain to me more about your interest in this?
"I knew I saw things differently than other people when I was in high school. I came from a very small community of people and I guess if we would have known what "goth" was back then, my friends and I would have been the "goth" kids. We dyed our hair black, we wore black clothes, black eyeliner and the boys wore makeup too. I think I was the first girl in my school with a nose ring and a tattoo. It wasn't just a phase for me, it became a way of life, the music, the fashion, the alternative culture. I was highly influenced by music, specifically industrial and metal. I found a lot of girls my age were dressing in alt fashions and makeup but were making themselves look harsh instead of pretty and I thought, "why can't we be dark AND beautiful creatures?". So I started striving for that look in my images. Beauty in Darkness."

Alex: I see that many of the images incorporate strong, graphic make-up. At Illamasqua, we are all about celebrating individuality by providing our customers with an intense highly pigmented palette or unsual colours and textures. What is it about the Illamasqua product line-up that encouraged you to use so many of our products in your work?

"I became friends with makeup artist, "Mascaraid", who brought your line to me because she saw the types of images I was shooting and thought Illamasqua would be a perfect match for my work. We did a couple of test shoots with your line and I fell in love instantly. Illamasqua makeup is amazing for graphic fashion or alternative photos we shoot. The Rich Liquid Foundation, blushes, and eyeshadows gave us colors and coverage we couldn't get with other pro brands. I will admit, I have a love of fake eyelashes and the ones you carry are delicious and beautiful! We have since done many shoots with this line and it works for us, not only for the alternative photos but for the fashion and glamour we shoot as well."

Alex: Who are your main influences throughout the worlds of photography, film, music etc?

"My number one influence is Tim Burton. His films and art have driven me to find beauty in the decay of things. His heroes and heroines are tragic beauties and there is a sadness captured by him that so few other artists can reveal in a story. Lydia Deets from Beetlejuice was one of the first true "goth" girls I remember seeing when I was young and I instantly fell in love with her. Even now I find his leading ladies in his new creations to be fabulous dark beauties that inspire me; The Corpse Bride, Sally, and Mrs. Lovett.

In photography I have been influenced by so many artists, but I would say if I had to pick one it would be Michael Rosen. His images are a mix of photography and digital artistry that is just amazing! Mr. Rosen creates a world of fantasy sometimes glamourous and sometimes scary. He takes you to this magical place and holds you there. I hope one day to reach that point in my art, to hold a viewer completely captive in my image."

I think you are already there, Laura!

Click here to view Laura Dark's website.

Illamasqua Loves... Nights Out!

The perfect Saturday Night outfit [or Thursday, or Friday...] is something that we are all eternally looking for, right? Well, I think I may have found mine. Alexander Wang, not only do you have a great name, but you are a genius with material.

This gorgeous grape dress will perfectly compliment all my new Dystopia products and give it a real 80s twist.

I am adoring this little number. Pair with Lanvins gorgeous black shoeboots and add a gorgeous cuff [loving this Anita Ko diamond encrusted piece].

Then all you need is False Eye Lashes in 13 for fluttering lashes and a slick of Intense Lipgloss in 'Petulant' mixed with Intense Lipgloss in 'Galactic' and your good to go! See you on Monday!

All available to buy at www.net-a-porter.com